BoddaH1994 Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 Tonight, I attended the Great Ohio Coaster Club's Christmas party with Don Helbig. It was the first time Kings Island had been represented at GOCC's Christmas party, so we were both really excited to be part of a 'first' on both sides of the fence. Presentations were made by Bryan Edwards from Cedar Point, who talked about the new additions to Cedar Point, Geauga Lake, and other dealings with Cedar Fair. This was my first time meeting Bryan, and I found him to be a really nice guy. Next was Mary Lou Rosemeyer from Kennywood. I was really excited to hear someone from Kennywood speak because that's my favorite park besides KI and I had never made any of the officials from there. Mary Lou told us about a movie that they're wrapping up filming at the park, and their new attraction for next year (although we promised not to talk about it yet!!). Finally Don Helbig spoke about Kings Island, what it has to offer and I spoke about KIC. As stated in an other post, the Paramount stuff WILL be rethemed next year. What the names will be? No one knows for sure yet. Overall, we had a really good time. The GOCC people were very nice and enthusiastic. It was our pleasure to attend their event and hopefully it'll be an annual thing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOPGUN1993 Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 No more TOPGUN! I just don't like the name FlightDeck1993 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastersRZ Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 Relax there Topgun1993. No one is saying that they are renaming Top Gun to Flight Deck just yet. All that is said is that they are renaming the rides that bore names of Paramount movies. Yes, your namesake ride will have a new name in 2008, but it could be a good name. Even though the park will be renaming rides like Top Gun, Italian Job, and Tomb Raider, you know most park guests will still continue to call these rides by their original names. Look how many guests still refer to Flight of Fear simply as Outer Limits. And it hasn`t been officially called that since the end of the 2000 season! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FOFirehawkFAN Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 Heck VooDoo at dorney park will still be known as superman to me and it's gone through 2 name changes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastersNSich Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 Even though the park will be renaming rides like Top Gun, Italian Job, and Tomb Raider, you know most park guests will still continue to call these rides by their original names. Look how many guests still refer to Flight of Fear simply as Outer Limits. And it hasn`t been officially called that since the end of the 2000 season! That proved to be true with Geauga Lake after Cedar Fair's take-over. Guests still called Dominator "Batman" and Steel Venom as "Superman." I bet some even still called the park itself "Six Flags." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FOFirehawkFAN Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 I forget what was the original name of Top Gun going to be? Maybe it will finally get a new paint job with its new name? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thejoker8388 Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 The original name was going to be Thunder Road if I remember correctly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avatar Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 Thanks Ryan for sharing your unique experience with us. It’s always good to hear insight to what’s going on in the parks. You do a great job on this site keeping us updated with what you can tell us. I look forward to future updates from you as well as from KI. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 The original name was going to be Thunder Road if I remember correctly. Or Swoop. Depending on which version you believe... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
italianchef Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 No more Paramount names??? AWESOME!!! Now I can get on rides that I've ridden before and pretend that they are new rides. New experiences! Besides, I'm tired of Paramount. Best regards, Italian Chef Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIfan73 Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 Wow, that is a big deal...everything being renamed!? I'm glad I bought a pass...I've always wanted to go opening day, maybe I can make it happen next spring... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erosarrow05 Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 perhaps an elaboration on what was said about CP/GL and these "Cedar Fair Dealings" would be in order.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raptor66 Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 FOC will always be Beastie to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastersRZ Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 But to some, The Beastie (and now the Failry Odd Coaster), will always be the Scooby Doo. And the "Cedar Fair Dealings" was likely just a run down of all the exciting things that Cedar Fair has going on at all their parks besides the Ohio properties. I don`t know for sure as I was not at the event yesterday (Ryan will be able to confirm this though). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoddaH1994 Posted December 9, 2007 Author Share Posted December 9, 2007 Yeah, mainly Bryan talked about the addition of the new kids area to the Point. In addition to that, he showed us a home video of he and his family enjoying the park saying that his family having fun is what means the most to him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PKIVortex Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 Any news on when the parks opening day will be in 2008? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoddaH1994 Posted December 10, 2007 Author Share Posted December 10, 2007 The preliminary opening day for KI will be April 19th, 2007. New for 2008! Kings Island will be open from 10-10 on Fridays in May!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted December 10, 2007 Share Posted December 10, 2007 (I am constantly amazed that a park in New Jersey can open at least two weeks before Kings Island, year after year....and the weather there is much, much worse...Go figure...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PKIVortex Posted December 10, 2007 Share Posted December 10, 2007 Oh I'm so there on one of those Friday's. I went the one Friday they were open last May, and it was awesome. I would suspect then that the 2008 operating calendar will be released soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoddaH1994 Posted December 10, 2007 Author Share Posted December 10, 2007 I'd expect it before the Christmas holidays more than likely. Some things are still being finalized. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hauntguy Posted December 10, 2007 Share Posted December 10, 2007 Kennywood's dark ride is getting a TOTAL overall, I think somewhere near the $2 Million range. The company doing the overhaul is Dark Rider/Halloween Productions Inc. of St. Louis (www.halloweenproductions.com) and the ride system is the trackless ride cars from ETF. The darkride will feature CGI animated effects with over 200 animatronics. I also believe it's supposed to be an interactive/point-and-shoot dark ride. Last I was told, the name of this "new" ride will be GHOSTWOOD ESTATE. I personally can't wait, KW is one of my favorite parks to visit and will be making a special trip to see this ride! -Hauntguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flightoffear1996 Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 Really I think KI could open in March the weather in March is much like the weather in Sept-Oct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastersRZ Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 Well, several years ago, the park used to open about the first weekend in April. But the last several years, they have pushed back the opening date a couple of weeks. I`m surprised they are going to be open all day on Fridays in May. I`m not complaining, but think that the early part of the day the park will be empty until schools let out. Back in 1999 the park opened on Fridays in April, I believe, from 5-10. It really makes sense that they would open on Friday nights, as I`m sure they will get some people through the gates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHODEY2007 Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 I went to the park twice in April this year and both times the lines were few, if any. I think it makes it kind of nice for any new employees to get their feet wet before the summer crowds hit. Pretty cool that they will be open on Fridays in May. I also heard rumor that October's operating days have expanded as well. If so, I guess we will be seeing alot more of the games being ran by full-timers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastersNSich Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 The preliminary opening day for KI will be April 19th, 2007. New for 2008! Kings Island will be open from 10-10 on Fridays in May!! Good move: I can imagine that Saturdays will be the same way. I sorta forget the closing times in most of May this season, but if I'm not mistaken, the park closed at 8PM on Saturdays in 2006, not so good on a busy day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHODEY2007 Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 I hope KI adds some later closes into the regular operating season. Though, I think some folks thought that the parks closed later than 10 anyway when Firehawk arrived. One night I got in line at 9:59PM and didn't ride till 11:20PM. Sorry employees! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastersRZ Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 For years and years, the park would always close at 11 on Saturdays in the summer. Then starting in 2006, they did away with the 11pm closing times. I even remember back for a couple of the Nights of Fire nights, that the park stayed open until midnight. It sure wouold be nice if they stayed open until 11pm on Saturdays again. But the question, from the business aspect, is do they bring in enough additional revenue that additional hour to justify staying open an hour later? I remember that Cedar Point used to be open until 11pm everyday of the week in July I believe, several years back. If I recall correctly, they were also open to midnight every Saturday in July as well. Hopefully, after the operating calendar was somewhat contracted last year, they are beginning to expand the operating calendar a little bit this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PKIVortex Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 Well, several years ago, the park used to open about the first weekend in April. But the last several years, they have pushed back the opening date a couple of weeks. I`m surprised they are going to be open all day on Fridays in May. I`m not complaining, but think that the early part of the day the park will be empty until schools let out. Back in 1999 the park opened on Fridays in April, I believe, from 5-10. It really makes sense that they would open on Friday nights, as I`m sure they will get some people through the gates. Some of the Friday's in May during the day time are Math and Science days though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastersRZ Posted December 12, 2007 Share Posted December 12, 2007 A very valid point that I overlooked! It will be interesting to see what the full 2008 operating calendar looks like when it is released. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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